Greg Robinson enters elite status

The NFL combine is complete. Over 300 players were poked, prodded and paraded in front of NFL decision-makers. As a result, the makeup of May’s NFL draft changed dramatically based on performances seen in Indianapolis.

The biggest story surrounding the combine was the evolving status of the offensive tackle position.

Auburn’s Greg Robinson put together a jaw-dropping workout. At 6-4 and 332 pounds with 35-inch arms, Robinson personifies a prototype NFL left tackle. He then blew everyone away with a phenomenal workout. Robinson posted a sub-5.0 40-yard dash. He showed explosiveness and quickness in all of the measured drills. And he was nearly flawless during positional drills.

Robinson answered the question of whether he or Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews was the top offensive tackle prospect. While Robinson will never be the technician Matthews is, Robinson’s talent ceiling is much higher.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio was on the opposite side of the spectrum. Kouandjio entered his junior campaign as a Top 10 prospect. He struggled in 2013. And he didn’t make his situation any better with a poor workout at the combine. To top things off, there are now concerns about the long-term stability of Kouandjio’s knees. As a result, Kouandjio fell out of the first round of a Q mock draft for the first time all year.

Fresno State’s Derek Carr has been projected as a potential Top 10 pick. But those projections were based primarily on need more so than talent. If the Vikings pass on Carr at No. 8 overall, the quarterback could realistically drop out of the first round entirely.

Other players such as Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller, UCLA’s Xavier Su’a-Filo, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks and Ohio State’s Bradley Roby all worked their way into first round consideration due to a good weekend in Indianapolis.

Now on to this week’s mock draft…

1. Texans
Blake Bortles, QB UCF

2. Rams (from WASH)
Greg Robinson, OT Auburn

3. Jaguars
Johnny Manziel, QB Texas A&M

4. Browns
Teddy Bridgewater, QB Louisville

5. Raiders
Jadeveon Clowney, DE South Carolina

6. Falcons
Khalil Mack, LB Buffalo

7. Buccaneers
Jake Matthews, OT Texas A&M

8. Vikings
Anthony Barr, LB UCLA

9. Bills
Sammy Watkins, WR Clemson

10. Lions
Justin Gilbert, CB Oklahoma State

11. Titans
Mike Evans, WR Texas A&M

12. Giants
Zack Martin, OT Notre Dame

13. Rams
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama

14. Bears
Calvin Pryor, S Louisville

15. Steelers
Taylor Lewan, OT Michigan

16. Cowboys
Aaron Donald, DT Pittsburgh

17. Ravens
C.J. Mosley, LB Alabama

18. Jets
Eric Ebron, TE North Carolina

19. Dolphins
Timmy Jernigan, DT Florida State

20. Cardinals
Dee Ford, DE Auburn

21. Packers
Louis Nix III, NT Notre Dame

22. Eagles
Odell Beckham Jr., WR LSU

23. Chiefs
Marqise Lee, WR USC

24. Bengals
Darqueze Dennard, CB Michigan State

25. Chargers
Kyle Fuller, CB Virginia Tech

26. Browns (from IND)
Xavier Su’a-Filo, OG UCLA

27. Saints
Kony Ealy, DE Missouri

28. Panthers
Brandin Cooks, WR Oregon State

29. Patriots
Jace Amaro, TE Texas Tech

30. 49ers
Ra’Shede Hageman, DT Minnesota

31. Broncos
Bradley Roby, CB Ohio State

32. Seahawks
David Yankey, OG Stanford

*Draft order was determined by record, strength of schedule and playoff results. The slotting for the Cowboys and the Ravens was decided by a coin flip due to identical records and opponent strength of schedules.